Perforator



atentjce PERFORATOR Manuel Cirilo, Puente, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, tn Borg-Warner Corporation, Vernon, Calif., a corporatlon of Illinois A Filed sept. 1, 1954, ser. No. 453,455

4 claims. (c1. 1oz-zo) This invention relates to apparatus for perforating the walls or casing in earth boreholes such as oil or gas wells, and more particularly to perforating guns or the like devices which may be run through tubing in a well for perforating the well or casing below the lower end of the tubing. v t

The art of perforatiug casing in oil wells utilizing either bullet type guns or shaped charge types of. perforating ap'- paratus has become well known and well established in the industry. As with bullet'type perforating guns, shaped charge guns are subject to the limitations of size and length when positioned for laterally directed tiring within a well bore or casing. Where either bullet guns or shaped charges are used for perforating casing they have cus` tomarily been mounted in a substantially iixed position in a carriage or body member which is nearly as large in diameter as the well -bore or casing in the well, to enable Y the use of a gun or shaped charge of maximum length, or to locate the shaped charge in the optimum position or stand-off distance relative to the well wall or casing. Even under the most favorable conditions perforation of oil well casing and surrounding formations to the desired depth is difficult to accomplish, and since the size of lthe gun or explosive is important, casing perforators have not usually been run into the well through tubin or other pipe smaller in diameter than the casing.

The present invention in an endeavor to obtain the the lower end of a cable head 16 which is secured thereadvantages of explosive actuated perforating means, par-T ticularly shaped charged perforators, is directedto an arrangement whereby high explosive shapedY charges can be lowered into a well bore or casing-axially through' a relatively small diameter pipe or tubing andthenvtilt'ed into laterally directed firing positions to enable charges of maximum size and length to be used to obtain the maximum lateral penetration in the well.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an explosive actuated perforator means for shooting wellsY wherein a plurality of shaped charges may be lowered through tubing in a well bore for shooting the wellwhere the perforator means is of greater length than the inside diameter of the tubing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel perforator which provides for the tiring of high powered shaped charges with optimum standoff into` surrounding oil well casing, the charges being run through relatively small size tubing and rotated to laterally directed position after passing out the lower open end of the tubing in the casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide ar tilttype perforator using shaped charges in which are incorporated improved features of safety by virtue ofthe fact that the shaped charge detonating means is maintained in an inoperative position during the running in stage of the operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a shaped charge perforator for oil well casing simple novel means for tilting the charges from a coaxially aligned longitudinal position to parallel positions normal to the 2 longitudinal axis of the well for firing, upon the perforator being moved out the lower open end of the tubing. f

A further object of the invention is to provide structure as set forth in the preceding object wherein the shaped charges may be realigned in coaxial positions for removal upwardly through the casing or tubing in the Yevent it is desired to recover the perforator apparatus intact together with the unlired charges. Y f .t

These and other objects, advantages and features of novelty of the presentinvention will be apparent from a consideration of the following speciiication when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings in which;y

Fig. 1 is a View in elevation of a typical well perforating gun apparatus embodying features of thepresent ,invention shown as the gunis emerging from-theflower open end of the tubing; f

Fig. 2A is an enlarged view partly in section showing the upper portion lofthe apparatus of Fig. l; .t

Fig. 2B is a view similar to that of Fig. 2A but showing the lower portion of the apparatus of Fig. l; A

Fig. 3A is a view similar to Fig. 2A showing'thegun at a slightly lower position relative to the lower Yend vof the tubing; v Y Y Fig. 3B is a View of the portion of kthe gun shown 'in 2B after rotation of the shaped charges to liringposition; Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a portion of the gun of Fig. l; and

Fig. 5 .is a cross-sectional View taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. t

Referring to the drawings, in morerparticularity, the numeral 10 indicates a gun perforator unit comprising an elongated frame or body member having an upper closed cylindrical portion or'member 11 `and a lowertubular portion or member 12 which is out away or open along one side to form' an elongated housing member which is U-shaped inicross-section. These members `are secured together in any suitable manner, such as by screws 113, An elongated nosepiece 14 issecured to the lower end of tubular member 12 as by screws 13. The upper portion of upper cylindrical member 11 is formed with an end bore 15 (see Figs. l and 2A) in which is received to asby screws 17. Cable head 16 is supported by'a conductor cable 18ha'ving anelectrical conductor 19 therein by which cable the gun perforator unit maybe lowered through a tubing C which may be positionedin a well bore or casing (not shown), tubing C having a lower open end 20 out of which the perforator unit .passesto operative position. Y t t t 'l A plurality of shaped charge units 21 areV carried by the lower U-shaped housing member 12 of the frame vor body 10, each unit comprising a hollow,shellorcylinder 22 containing a shaped charge. Cylinders `22 each have a central chamber 22a and an end closure 22h therefor, and a shaped charge explosive vbody 22e is positioned in the inner `end of each chamber 22a. Each cylinder 22 is lformed with a frusta-conical ,booster charge housing` 56 containing a booster explosive charge 56a y,adjacent the inner end vof thev shaped charge 22C. i Cylinders 22:

each have pivots 23 on opposite` sides thereof adjacent,U one endby which they are pivotally secured to and with-1 in the U-shaped housing 12 of the frame or body member 10 and each of thercylinder closures 22b have pivot pin connections 24 on one side thereof by which the cylinders 22 are pivotally secured to a longitudinally extending link orbar 25. vThe upper end of link or bar 25 isv pivotally connected to a lateral link 26 whlch 1n turn is pivoted at Z7 to a transverse pin extending between the sides of the U-shaped housing member 1?.. The lower end of the'lon'gitudinal link or barl 25 -1s similarly pivotally connected to a lateral link 28,'the

other end of which is pivotally supported on a transverse l pivot pin 29 carried by the aforesaid side portions of the U-shaped housing member 12.

A sector plate 30 is suitably secured on the pivot pin 29 and to a link 28 and is formed with a peripheral groove 31 in the circular edge portion thereof. A ilexi- -blefc'able 32 has its upper end secured to sector plate -'30 a's by a lock screw 33 and is guided in groove 3.1 and 'has its lower end extended downwardly into a longitudinal bore 34 formed in nosepiece 14, which nosepiece also has another adjacent longitudinal bore 35 formed therein. A cover plate 36 is suitably secured to the upper end of nosepiece 14 and covers the upper ends of bores 34 and 35 except `for an aperture 36a through which cable 32 extends, and an aperture 36b through which a later to be described fuse 49 extends. A compression spring 37 is positioned in bore 34, and the lower end of cable 32 is extended through the spring and suitably secured to a disc or plate 3S seated against the lower end of the spring. Spring 37 is thus held under compression between disc or plate 38 and cover plate 36 by tension 'in the cable 32.

Upper cylindrical member 11 of the frame or body is formed with a longitudinal slot 39 in which is positioned a toggle mechanism designated generally by the numeral 40. This mechanism comprises pairs of toggle links 41 and 42, links 41 having their upper ends supported by pivot pin or shaft 43 extending transversely across slot 39, links 42 having their lower ends pivotally secured together through a pivot pin 44. The alternate pairs of links 41 and 42 have their other ends connected to pivot pins 45, each of which pins carries a roller 46, there also being a pulley 47 carried by pivot pin 43. A cable 48 has one end thereof secured to pivot pin 44 and is passed over pulley 47 and has its opposite end portion passed slidably through a drill hole or aperture 11a in the lower cylindrical portion of member 11, the lower end of the cable being connected to a pivot pin 26a which interconnects links 25 and 26.

An electric detonator cap 50 and the lower end of a fuse 49 are secured within a tubular fuse union 50a and contained in bore 35, fuse 49 extending the length of member 12 and being suitably secured along the inner rear wall portion thereof. An insulated conductor 51 is suitably secured to and along member 1.1 and l12 and is connected at its lower end to detonator cap 50 and has its upper end coursed through a longitudinally extending bore 11b in member 11 and connected to the lower end of a terminal bolt 52 which extends through a bore 53 in the cable head 16 and is insulated from the cable head by suitable bushings 54.

A terminal 55 is secured to the upper end of terminal bolt 52, and cable conductor 19 is connected to terminal 55. The aforementioned booster charge-containing housing 56 extends downwardly or rearwardly Vfrom the shaped charge cylinders 22 in the charge units 21, as shown in Fig. 2B, the booster charges 56a therein being positioned closely adjacent fuse 49 as shown in Fig. 3B when the shaped charge units 21 are rotated to the horizontal or transverse ring position. The fuse 49 is of an explosive or detonating type, such as that known commerically as P.E.T.N. Reenforced Primacord designated as SOGR/Ft.

In the operation of the invention the perforator 1G is lowered through a tubing string C as shown in Fig. l, with the parts of the perforator in the collapsed condition shown in Figs. l, 2A, 2B, 4 and 5. During this run-in movement the toggle mechanism 40 is fully collapsed with the rollers 46 engaging the inner wall 4of the tubing and with the shaped charge units retracted in coaxial alignment, spring 37 having been compressed by movement of the link or bar 25 to its uppermost and innermost position when the toggle mechanism is collapsed, .which movement places a tension on cable 48 which swings the charge units to the before-mentioned aligned position and compresses spring 37. When the lower and central portion of the gun perforator emerges from the lower open end 2Q of tubing C the toggle link mechanism is released and expanded by virtue of the spring tension on cable 48, the spring tension being transmitted through cable 32, sector plate 30, link 28 and bar 25 to the pivot pin 26a and thence to cable 48. This rotative movement of the shaped charge units Z1 from the longitudinally aligned position of Figs. l and 2A rotates the charges to the horizontal or transverse `tiring position as shown .ing'Fig 3B, in which position the booster charge housings 56v are each brought into a position in contact with or adjacent fuse 49. When it is desired todetonate the Vshaped `charges, an electrical current is delivered to igniter 50 through cable conductor 19, conductor 50 and through a-suitable ground connection for the igniter, such as ground wire 57, thereby igniting the fuse which, upon igniting, detonates the several booster charges 56a and the associated shaped charges 2`2c containedV in the cylinders 22.. If for any reason after the gun perforator is positioned in the tiring position shown in Figs. 3Arand 3B, such as a failure of the electrical circuit orthe fuse to ignite, or for a change in plan of the firing location or other similar reason and it is desired to remove the gun per'forator, this can be done by an upward vpull on the suspension cable 18. During such upward movement toggle mechanism 40 will be retracted upon the links 4.1 engaging the lower open end of the tubing lC, and their further upward movement will cause the collapse of the mechanism and the return of the parts to the condition of Figs. 2A and 2B with the shaped charge units 21 axially aligned, and the perforator can then be raised through the tubing.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative only, and that the invention is not limited thereby, but may include various modifications and changes which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for perforating casing in oil wells below tubing suspended in said casing comprising in combinan tion: an elongated .frame adapted to be lowered in said well through and out the lower end of said tubing; a plu rality of longitudinally coaxially aligned shaped charges pivotally mounted on said frame for rotation to laterally directed iiringl positions; arcuately shiftable means to rotate said charges 'from said coaxially aligned positions to laterally extending ring positions; means controlled by contact with the inside bore of said tubing to restrain said rst means from actuation while said frame is in said tubing; and means to detonate said charges when in said laterally extended firing positions, said second means com prising a collapsible quadrilateral linkage having an upper pair of laterally extending links and a lower pair of laten ally extending links, said upper pair having inner adjacent ends pivotally connected centrally of and to said frame by pivotal connection means; direction-reversing means associated with said pivotal connection means; said lower pair of links having adjacent ends pivotally connected together at an anchor point; the outer ends of said upper pair of links being pivotally connected to the outer ends of said lower pair of links; a cable connected to said anchor point and passing upwardly therefrom over said di rection-reversing means and returning downwardly for connection to means associated with the mounting means for said shaped charges at the ends opposite the pivotal connections thereof to said body, said upper pair of links when said frame is being raised in said casing and into said lower end of said tubing, being engageable with said lower end of said tubing and actuatable thereby to tension said cable and shift said arcuately shiftable-means'to rotate said charges to their originally aligned coaxial positions.

2. Apparatus for perforating casing in oil wells below tubing suspended in said casing comprising .in ,combinationv an elongated structure adapted to be lowered in said well through said tubing and out the lower end of said tubing, said structure including a channel member; a fuse positioned within and at the base of the channel of said channel member; a plurality of longitudinally aligned shaped charges pivoted adjacent one end thereof to and within said channel member; means pivotally connected to all of said shaped charges adjacent the other ends thereof to effect rotation thereof about axes transverse of said channel; a booster charge on each shaped charge at the lower portion thereof; means for rotating said shaped charges substantially 90 about said axes to laterally extending firing positions and said booster charges into positions adjacent said fuse; expansible means held in contracted condition while Within said tubing for restraining said last means from actuation, said expansible means comprising a pantograph having a iixed link pivot on said structure, a link pivot movable toward and away from said iixed pivot, and a cable connected between said movable pivot and said lirst means, and means for igniting said fuse.

3. Apparatus for perforating casing in oil wells below tubing suspended in said casing comprising in combination: an elongated frame having a vertical axis and adapted to be lowered in said well through and out the lower end of said tubing; a shaped charge pivotally mounted on said frame and coaxially aligned therewith for rotation to laterally directed tiring position; means resiliently biasing said shaped charge to rotate from said coaxially aligned position to said laterally directed tiring position; means controlled by contact with the inside bore of said tubing to restrain said rst means from actuation while said frame is in said tubing, said second means comlower end of said tubing and actuable thereby to'laterally contract said quadrilateral linkage and tensionsaid tension means to rotate said charge to its original coaxially aligned position; andV means to detonate said charge when in said laterally extended firing position.

4. Apparatus for perforating casing -in oil wells below tubing suspended in said casing comprising Vin combination: an elongated frame having a vertical axis and and a lower pair of laterally extending links, said upperk pair of links having inner adjacent ends pivotally con- Y nected'to said frame by pivotal connection means, said lower pair of links having inner adjacent ends pivotally connected together at an anchor point, the outer ends of said upper pair of links being pivotally connected to the outer ends of said lower pair of links, and means including a cable connecting said 'anchor point to said charge yand arranged to urge said quadrilateral linkage to expand laterally as said charge rotates from said coaxially aligned position to said laterally directed firing position when said quadrilateral linkage emerges from the lower end of said tubing, said upper pair of links,l

Y when said frame is being raised in said casing and into prising a collapsible quadrilateral linkage having an upper pair of laterally extending links and a lower pair of laterally extending links, said upper pair of links having inner adjacent ends pivotally connected together at an upper point, said lower pair of links having inner adjacent ends pivotally connected together at a lower point, the outer ends of said upper pair of links being pivotally connected v when said frame is being raised in said casing and into the lower end of said tubing, being engageable'with the the lower end of said tubing, beingk engageable with the lower end of said tubing and actuable thereby torlaterally contract said quadrilateral linkageand tension said cable to rotate said charge to its original coaxially aligned position; and means to detonate said charge when in said laterally extended ring position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED sTATEsPATEN'rs 2,629,325 Sweetman Feb. 24, 1953v 2,639,770 Huber May 26, 1953 2,644,519 Kanady Iu1y'7, 1953 2,664,156V Allen Dec. 29, 1953 2,664,157 Abendroth Dec. 29, 1953 2,664,158 McKean Dec. 29', 1953 2,705,920- Kanady Apr. 12, `1955 FOREIGN PATENTSl 1,029,798V France Mar. 11, 1953 l 

